FSML Upgrade of Electrical Distribution System at Archbold Biological Station

该奖项为阿赫博尔德生物站的电力供应和互联网接入提供资金，这是一个致力于长期生态研究的非营利研究机构。阿赫博尔德拥有并管理着一个3,653公顷的全球重要灌木保护区，位于佛罗里达中部的威尔士湖岭，是美国最具特色的自然生态系统之一。该研究站的研究重点是人口和保护生物学，火生态学以及稀有和特有物种的人口变化。在过去的5年里，阿赫博尔德被大量用于科学家的研究和教育（16，652个使用日），研究生和本科生的研究培训（115名学生），访问大学课堂（864个使用日）和一个活跃的K-12计划（10，921 K-12访问）。2004年的一项基本基础设施规划进程确定，该站配电系统的升级对未来设施的扩建至关重要。在过去18个月里，四次大飓风以及随之而来的停电强调了这个奖项需要解决的问题。配电系统将得到改善，服务于行政办公室、参考资料收集、地理信息系统实验室、访客办公室、会议室、礼堂、动物房、消防/其他设备储藏室、维修车间、气象站、水塔、泵房和深井泵以及七个居民游客小屋。升级包括导管中的配电电缆、切断盒和新的断路器面板。这些改进预计将减少电力浪涌、停电和其他损害敏感电子设备的电力变化。 新的管道将用于将光纤延伸到两个偏远的校园建筑，然后将能够作为互联网服务的无线接入点。阿赫博尔德开展教育项目，直接传播研究成果，并让学生（K-12及以上）参与科学过程。公共服务包括导游图尔斯、自然步道和公共研讨会。研究成果还通过一个网站向公众传播，该网站科学内容丰富，但有许多网页侧重于公众教育。

This award provides funding for improvements in electrical supply and internet access at the Archbold Biological Station, a not-for-profit research institution dedicated to long-term ecological research. Archbold owns and manages a 3,653-ha globally significant scrub preserve located in the Lake Wales Ridge, central Florida, one of the most distinctive natural ecosystems in the US. Research at the station emphasizes population and conservation biology, fire ecology, and demographic shifts in rare and endemic species. In the last 5 years, Archbold has been used heavily for research and education by scientists (16,652 use days), for research training of graduates and undergraduates (115 students), by visiting college classes (864 use days) and for an active K-12 program (10,921 K-12 visits). A 2004 capital infrastructure planning process identified the upgrade of the Station's electrical distribution system as critical to future expansion of facilities. Four major hurricanes in the last 18 months, with concomitant power outages have emphasized the needs to be addressed with this award. The electrical distribution system to be improved services administration offices, reference collections, GIS lab, visitor offices, conference room, auditorium, animal house, fire/other equipment caches, Maintenance Shop, weather station, Water Tower, Pump House and Deep Well Pump, and seven residential visitor cottages. The upgrade includes distribution cables in conduit, cut-off boxes and new breaker panels. The improvements are expected to reduce power surges, brown outs and other power variation which damages sensitive electronic equipment. The new conduits will be used to extend optical fiber to 2 remote campus buildings that will then be able to serve as wireless access points for internet service. Archbold conducts education programs that disseminate research results directly and involve students (K-12 and beyond) in the process of science. Public outreach includes guided tours, a Nature Trail, and public seminars. Research results are also disseminated to the public via a website, which is rich in science content but includes many pages focused on public education.